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List of presidents spans historical run

Published: Sunday, January 20, 2013 at 6:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, January 18, 2013 at 11:11 a.m.

The first president of the United States that I remember was Franklin Delano Roosevelt. I remember what were referred to as his “Fireside Chats,” and I remember the day he died.

That was a sad day for our country and for the world. Because of his political know-how and his focus on the country’s recovery from the Great Depression that had spelled disaster for our country — banks closing, massive unemployment and all the problems that went along with them — he was immensely popular.

World War II saw him still in office. He had gone on to win four terms as president, serving from 1933 until his death on April 12, 1945. I heard the news of his death on the radio at the home of the lady where I worked at the time. I remember running to tell her of his death. She cried, and I had never before found myself needing to console a grown woman. She had been working in her garden, so I picked up her tools and put them away, awkwardly realizing that was the only thing I could do for her. I just didn’t know how else to ease her grief.

Harry S. Truman, the vice president at the time, succeeded Roosevelt as president of the United States and served from 1945 to 1953.

Our next president was Dwight D. Eisenhower, who had made quite a name for himself during World War II. Eisenhower served from 1953 to 1961.

Our next president was John F. Kennedy, at age 43 the youngest man to be elected president and the first president born in the 20th century. Married to Jackie B. Kennedy, he seemed to have it all: a gorgeous wife, youth, good education and a loving family. But then tragedy struck. He was assassinated in November 1963 in Texas while there on a speaking trip.

When the news flashed on television, I ran to our little store next door to tell my husband. I could barely believe that anyone could even think of shooting the president, much less actually pull the trigger to do the dastardly deed. I remember seeing Jackie’s bloody dress and how composed she was in the midst of the mayhem surrounding her.

Lyndon B. Johnson succeeded Kennedy as president and served from 1963 to 1969. In January of 1973 Johnson died at his ranch in his home state of Texas.

Richard Nixon followed Johnson as president. He served from 1969 to 1974. He resigned in August of that year to avoid impeachment. After Spiro Agnew’s resignation as vice president, Nixon had nominated Gerald Ford as vice president, and Ford ultimately became president when Nixon resigned.

As the 38th president of the United States, Ford escaped two assassination attempts. Unable to garner enough support to a run for a full term as president, he mentioned before leaving office how proud he was that he was able to return to the people the confidence they had lost because of the scandals that had plagued the presidency during the previous administration.

Jimmy Carter was elected our next president and served from 1977 to 1981, when Ronald Reagan won the presidential election by a wide margin over Carter.

Ronald Reagan was a popular president and retained his popularity throughout his two terms in office.

Following Reagan as president was Geoge H.W. Bush, who had served as vice president under Reagan.

Then came Bill Clinton, followed by Geoge W. Bush and Barack Obama.

So far I’ve lived under 13 presidents that I can remember and two that I was too small to remember. It almost seems we have come full circle. I wonder if any other president could pull us from the depths of despair as FDR did during the Great Depression.

Irene C. Michel, a native of Terrebonne Parish, is a columnist for The Courier and Daily Comet. She can be reached at 876-3252 or ICMwriter84@gmail.com.

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